The power of manipulation has the ability to cloud an individual’s mind, making them act out of character. The play, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, opens in the streets of Rome, where they celebrate Caesar’s victory over Pompey’s sons. Although people celebrate his victory, some are against Caesar and his rule. One of these individuals is Cassius, who’s motivated to manipulate Brutus in order to overthrow Caesar. By Cassius inciting how Brutus is just as worthy as Caesar, Brutus sees how Caesar shouldn’t be a higher standard, and by making Caesar appear weak, he sees that he is unfit to be in a position of power. Cassius uses comparability manipulation; he compares Caesar to Brutus to prove his point of them being no different from one another. In Cassius’s dialogue in Act 1, Scene 2, on page 19, he tells Brutus, “What’s so special about “Caesar”? Why should the name be proclaimed more than yours?” By emphasizing the belief that Caesar and Brutus have no differences between them and what they’re capable of, Cassius initiated the plan of poisoning Brutus against Caesar. This scene from the play is crucial to exhibit how Cassius is able to infiltrate Brutus’s beliefs and trust in Caesar. …show more content…
Cassius uses this as a manipulation tactic in order to get Brutus on his side of the conspiracy. Moreover, in Cassius’s dialogue, he exclaims to Brutus that “Caesar had a fever and it made him shake. It’s true, this so-called “god” - he shook.” Not only does Cassius take advantage of Brutus’s concern, but he also exploits it by highlighting how Caesar is not everything that his admirers make him out to be. By making a point of Caesar being as weak as an ordinary man, Cassius plants the seed of doubt and cynicism in Brutus for Caesar and his true intentions regarding the power that he
/ Write them together, yours is as fair a name; / Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; / Weigh them, it is as heavy" (1.2.142-146). Cassius continues in his adulation of his friend, in contrast to the mockery of Caesar. By showing loyalty and feigning agreement with Brutus' love of democratic government, Cassius develops ethos further and re-establishes his role as a dear friend. Though it is implied that Cassius is in the conspiracy because of his disdain for Caesar himself and not for a monarchy in
Cassius makes a point to describe Caesar as having “coward lips” (Shakespeare, 1.2. 122), and with this, pairs his cowardly character with the insight that those very lips are the ones to “bade the Romans” (1.2.125). With the use of imagery, Shakespeare and, therefore, Cassius provides a vivid image of Julius Caesar’s character. The juxtaposition of the two roles of Caesar, a coward and a ruler, is used as another rhetoric device to convey the meaning and theme of manipulation that is shown throughout the play. By juxtaposing these two sentences, Cassius’ intention of engineered influence and the idea that one, especially if noble, can be swayed easily is
Cassius manipulates manipulates a big group of Caesar's friends and colleagues to want what's best for Rome. Decius is one of those colleagues to Caesar who manipulates Cesar to ultimately meet his doom with the senate. Antony controls a crowd of concerned Romans to act out his revenge plot.
In William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, the character of Brutus gets corrupted by the power he gets after joining the conspirators. As Caesar is starting to become the leader of Rome, Cassius starts a secret conspiracy group and recruits Brutus. Brutus is good friends with Caesar but he also thinks that it would be best for the good of Rome if Caesar wasn’t the leader. You really realize how corrupted Brutus is after he kills Caesar and the tragic words “Et tu Brute?” come out.
This directly interferes with Cassius, who only seeks vengeance against Caesar. Because of this interference, many conflicts emerge throughout the story. The progression of conflict in this scene begins with a suggestion from Cassius and an executive decision from Brutus that Cassius disagrees with. Act II scene I does well to showcase a conversation between Brutus and Cassius and provides several examples of tone, conflict, character devolvement, and relationships that are shared and carry on to other scenes and acts throughout the
He believes this because he was persuaded into participating in the assassination against Caesar only for the good of Rome. A way of tricking someone into believing or doing something another individual wants them to do can be defined as Manipulation. Manipulation is used and experienced by Cassius, Brutus, and Antony throughout this play. Nonetheless, manipulation appears in events that would not have been the same without it. Manipulation can be either positive or negative, and plays a key role in the way many situations turn out, not only in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, but in other plays or books, and in real
In Act II scene i of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare uses Power dynamics in dialogue to reveal the tension between the political Ideology and personal Beliefs of Cassius and Brutus. In this scene, William Shakespeare uses a unique set of dialogue to reveal Brutus’s status in comparison to the other conspirators. Cassius, Casca, Cinna, and Metellus proceed to state their opinions on whether or not they support the idea of involving Cicero in their plan, but as soon as Brutus affirms that “No, don't even mention him. We
This justifies the use of rhetorical questions as an acceptable, rational persuasion technique. Immediately after this rhetorical question, Cassius uses compare and contrast by comparing Brutus to Caesar by saying, “Write them together, yours is as fair a name; / Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well” (1.2.48-51). By claiming that Brutus and Caesar both have “fair” names and that the names both “sound” equally honorable, Cassius highlights a clear comparison between Brutus and Caesar. The similarities between the two are emphasized by Cassius in order to persuade Brutus that he is equally as important as Caesar, and should not allow Caesar to establish his own tyrannical state.
In William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, Cassius is a foil to Marcus Brutus, for Brutus is consistently described as honorable and kind, contrasting the always clever and self-centered, Cassius. Cassius acts as a character who goes against the virtues and weaknesses of the main character. Brutus announces, “Why man, he doth bestride the narrow World like a Colossus, and we pretty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonorable graves” (Shakespeare I. 2. 142-145). By appealing to Brutus' feeling of honor and loyalty to Rome, Cassius hopes to persuade him to join the conspiracy against Caesar.
Cassius 's persuasion of depicting the same person entices Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar even more. By making Brutus feel just as important as Caesar also increases Brutus ' ego.
Cassius saves the life of Caesar, sees him beg for water, and witnesses his epileptic seizure. From these weaknesses, Cassius finds himself to be just as worthy of the crown as is Caesar. His reasons are emotionally tied to getting rid of Caesar, Brutus chooses to become a conspirator for the good of Rome. He does not know how Caesar will use his power.
Cassius influenced Brutus to conspire against Caesar by stating, Caesar “is now become a god… and his name has been sounded more than [Brutus’s]” (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 118-145-6). Cassius’s arguments convinced Brutus in proving Caesar's murder would be just, but Caesar’s death is unjust because he is being murdered out of Brutus and Cassius’s jealousy. Both of the individuals are envious of the power that Caesar is being given by the people of Rome and want to end his life before they will lose their own power in the senate after Caesar becomes king. Brutus’ naive mind was easily convinced by Cassius that Caesar was not the best choice to assume the Roman throne because he would not listen to their political thoughts.
Within Julius Caesar Shakespeare uses manipulation in order to show how corrupt government can be, in stark contrast with the current government that Shakespeare is experiencing. A transition of power is in the future for Shakespeare and he wants the public to learn of how they cannot be manipulated into decisions, and must look at things without a tainted idea. Shakespeare uses the main political Figures in Julius Caesar, Brutus and Antony, to show this form of political manipulation of people with less power. The first example of deceit and manipulation come when Brutus betrays Caesar and kills him.
In Act 1 scene 2 Cassius said to Brutus “ I was born free as Caesar. So were you.” Here we can see that Cassius challenges Caesar's worth, as he believes Caesar is no more worthy than himself but how is he worthy enough to become the ruler of Rome when they were born equal. Cassius has also revealed his belief that one must be honorable and worthy of ruling Rome to have such a position, Cassius believes Caesar does not possess any of those
During the play, the conspirators attempt to predict what kind of leader Caesar will become after he gains the title of dictator. In the beginning of the play, Caesar notices Brutus speaking with Cassius at the race. Since Caesar is now such a powerful ruler, he starts to fear what may be occurring and voices his concern, “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look / He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous” (I.ii.204-205).